Attachment for hosieey biaehines



June 28, 1949. 'J. B. HARDISON ATTACHMENT FOR HOSIERY MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1947 "E Inventor zu/uv EQIRDJ .s'cmr.

June 28, 1949..

J. B. HARDISON ATTACHMENT [FOR HOSIERY MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1947 ENE Ply/l I uveutar I -Elli y l l 40/62. Wave E48]:

June 28, 1949. J. B. HARDISON 2,474,246

I ATTACHMENT FOR HOSIERY MACHINES Filed April 25, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet a I86 I78 4 I90 I I76 I 7 I l I| l J II' I I I I, I

Ll I hlll J88 M 60 1 I 7 204 i B 6 z w Patented June 28, 1949 2,474,245 ATTACHMENT Fort nosinRY MACHINES Julian 1B. Hardison, Burlington, N. (3., assignor to David M. Harman, Burlington, N. 0.

Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,435

17 Claims. (Cl. 66-157) This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 594,913 filed May 21, 1945, now abandoned. v

This invention pertains to an attachment for knitting machines and more specifically has reference to a safety device which may be applied to any conventional type of full fashioned knit ting machine for instantly stopping operation of the machine if, during the narrowing operation, the camshaft fails to shog after each revolution, and is similar in purpose to but constitutes an improvement upon the device disclosed in the prior patent to Greenlee No. 2,239,488 of April 22, 1941.

In all of the full fashioned knitting machines now in use, a chain pattern is employed to control the necessary narrowing operation of the knitting, as when a stocking is reduced in width to correspond to the tapering of the leg and foot, in order to obtain the desired contour of the article. During this part of the fabrication of the garment, the mechanism is actuated to effectnarrowing and knitting alternately and at appropriate intervals in order to obtain the desired shape. It is well understood by those versed in this art, that if the narrowing mechanism is actuated twice in succession, without the interposition of a knitting operation, this being known as double dipping of the machine, injury to both the machine and the knitted article results; and as these machines simultaneously knit many arti'cles at the same time, the same defects occur in each article on the machine, and an entire run is lost, and the machine itself is rendered inoperative for several hours while the requisite repairs are effected. The great loss of time and material and the cost of repairs are therefore extremely undesirable. Nevertheless, wear or damage in the pattern chain is a prolific cause of failures of these machines to narrow properly, resulting in a great waste, as aforesaid.

It is therefore a primary purpose of this in- Vention to devise a mechanism for preventing damage to the machine and its product, by instantly stopping the machine in theevent that the camshaft fails to shog after or during each revolution during the narrowing operation.

A very important object of this invention resides in devising an accessory for knitting machinesin accordance with the preceding-objects, which is adapted for easy and immediate attachment to existing machines without any altera-' tions of the components'thereof; at a" minimum expense and with aminimum period of idleness 2 of the machine, and may be readily incorporated into the fabrication of new machine's.

Another important aim of the invention conf sists in providing an appliance in conformity with the foregoing objects, wherein successive narrow ing operations are prevented unless a course of knitting has been interposed therebetween;

Yet another purpose of my invention com" prises the development of an attachment for full fashioned hosiery machine's, according to the aforesaid objects, wherein the machine is automa-tically stopped in the event that the camshaft makes more than one revolution when in its shogged position during the narrowing operation".

Stillanother aim of the invention resides in providing an accessory in accordance with the aforementioned objects, wherein after the machine has been stopped because of double dipping, it can" resume its operation only" after being man ual ly re'=set, whereby ample opportunity is af-' f-ordecl for the correction ofthe diffioulty occasionii'ig the'stoppag;

These", together with various ancillary objects which will become apparent asthe following descriptionproceeds, are effected by the invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated by way of exam ne only in the accompanyi'ng drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view from the back of an end por-tion' of a fulljfa'shi'oned knitting machine to which my attachment has been applied, parts; being" broken away to provide a bett'er view, and certain concealed parts being shownby dbttedlines Figure 2 is a detail in Vertical elevation and section of a portioii'of the narrowing nuts showih'g a" p'art 'of' thejifi'vention associated therewith;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially u on the plane of the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4' is a fragmentary View in horizontal section, taken substantially upon the plane of the'1ine4 4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is' a-bottom plan view of a portion of the trip mechanismbeing taken substantially up on-the broken=planeof the line 55'in-'Figure 3;

Figure 6 is" a vertical elevation; partly in section; of a portion of the'trip"mec'hani'srni and is taken substantially upon the line 6-6' of Figure 1 4 Fisher is-"a diagrammatic 'topplan view show; irig my device applied to a' portion of the knitting machine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a simplified modification of the invention; and,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second modified form of construction.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of an actuated lever controlling the motive power of the knitting machine, an actuating arm adjustable upon the camshaft and mechanism responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation of the machine for positioning the lever in the path of travel of the actuating arm, during and as a result of initiation of the narrowing operation, to cause the arm to engage the lever and stop the machine if the camshaft fails to shog in properly timed relation to its rotation.

Attention is now directed more specifically to the annexed drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views and wherein is shown in Figures 1, 3 and 7 a portion of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine to which the principles of this invention have been applied. It should be here noted that the invention is equally applicable to all types of full fashioned knitting machines but for the sake of simplicity of illustration, it has been here shown applied to a conventional type of full fashioned hosier knitting machine known as the Reading machine.

In the associated drawings, only those portions of this well known type of machine have been illustrated which are necessary to understand the principles of this invention; and these portions include the end portions of a knitting machine frame consisting of a back or rear rail [0, a front rail l2 and a top rail 1%.

Supported in any desired manner and at any convenient location, as upon the back rail H], is a power source such as an electric motor I 6 which drives by any suitable gearing or connecting mechanism, not shown, the various instrumentalities of the knitting machine including the camshaft 58 which is provided with the customary sets of cams adapted for selective use in straight knitting operation and in the loop gathering or dipping operation of the needles in narrowing, as desired. In accordance with the .conventional design, the camshaft I8 is provided with a pair of shogging cams 20, 2| which are adapted to be selectively engaged by a mechanism indicated generally and diagrammatically at 22 when it is desired to reciprocate the camshaft in timed relation to its rotation for the purpose of successively and alternately performing knitting and narrowing operations.

As so far described, the machine is of customary design; it being only necessary in order to attain the objects of this invention that the knitting instrumentalities be controlled by a camshaft which performs the customary knitting operations by rotation in a predetermined and normal position, and which performs narrowing operations by rotation when in an axially displaced second position. In order to insure against the camshaft performing accidentally or inadvertently more than one consecutive rotation in the narrowing operation, the safety device forming the subject matter of this invention and which is now to be described is attached to the knitting machine.

A frame 24 is mounted above the front and rear rails of the machine and is secured thereto by depending front and rear lugs 26 and 28 attached to the front and rear rails respectively. A vertically extending hollow channel member or housing 30, of U-shaped cross section, rises from the frame 2:3 and at its upper end is attached by an integral lateral extension or flange 32 with the top rail 14 in any suitable manner as by screws or other fastening means 3 The member 30 is provided with a removable cover plate 36, detachably secured to the open front side thereof as by screws 38 as shown best in Figures 1 and 2. Axially slidable in the vertically extending channel member 36 is a bar 40 which is yieldingly urged towards its raised position by means of a spring 62 interposed between pins 44 and 46 secured respectively to the bar and to the cover plate 36.

The conventional narrowing shaft 48 with which this type of knit-ting machine is provided has the customary narrowing nuts, one of which has been diagrammatically shown at 5|! positioned thereon and is actuated in the usual manner and for the customary purposes. As is well known to those skilled in this art, the narrowing nuts are moved in step by step manner, axially of the narrowing nut shaft under control of the pattern change which rotates said shaft by conventional mechanism with which these machines are equipped, not shown, and each movement of the nuts effects operation of the loop gathering hoops to cause narrowing, by mechanism well understood and not shown. In accordance with i this invention, a laterally extending arm 52 is secured to one of the narrowing nuts 58, extends generally parallel to the shaft 48, and is provided with a longitudinally slidable actuating member 54 adjustably secured upon the arm 52 as by means of bolts 55. At its forward end, the actuating member 5% is provided with a cam surface 53 for a purpose to be now set forth.

At an appropriate location, the housing 30 and cover plate 33 are laterally notched or cut away as at El) and the bar 40 is provided with a lateral pin 62 extending through and disposed for vertical reciprocation within the confines of the notch 86. As shown best in Figures 1 and 2, the extremity of the member 54 is so positioned that upon actuation of the narrowing nut 53 to effect the narrowing operation of the machine, the extremity of the member 54 is moved longitudinally and into the recess 6% and passes above the laterally extending pin 62. During the horizontal travel of the narrowing nut 50, the cam surface 58 engages the pin 62 and upon continued longitudinal movement of the actuating member '54 depresses the pin 62 and its supporting rod at until the lower surface of the actuating member 55 maintains the pin 62 and bar 38 in their depressed position.

As will be readily understood, when the narrowing operation is completed, the narrowing nut 50 is withdrawn or racked out by hand and the actuating member 54 retracted therewith, thereby releasing the pin 62 and permitting the bar it to rise under the bias of the spring 32. It will thus be seen that the bar 49 is operated in synchronization with and as a consequence of the actuation of the narrowing nut 59, whereby the bar is depressed during the narrowing operation of the machine and permitted to remain raised during straight knitting thereof, the purpose and effect of this operation being later set forth. The parts are preferably so proportioned that the pin 62 is engaged and the bar 40 is fully depressed by the initial movement of the narrowing nuts; and remains so depressed until the nuts are racked out at the completion of the narrowing operation.

Referring now in particular to Figures 1 and 3, it will be noted that the rear lug 28 is U-shaped in cross section and is provided with upwardly extending parallel walls 64 between which is pivoted as at 66 a switch lever 68 intermediate its ends. The outer extremity of this lever 88 has secured thereto in any suitable manner a mercury switch 20 which is connected by leads I2 with the circuit, not shown, of the electric motor I6, the switch being so arranged that when the switch end of the lever 68 is lowered the circuit to the electric motor is broken and the power operating the knitting machine is thereby cut off.

At its inner extremity, the lever 68 is horizontally slotted as at I4, see Figs. 3 and 6, and a bracket i6 is pivoted as at I8 in said 5101; for swivelling movement horizontally of the lever. The bracket 76 has a downward leg 80 to which is secured a pin 82 longitudinally adjustable through the leg 88 as by means of adjusting nuts 84. A spring 88 secured between a pair of depending supports 88 and 98 mounted respectively beneath the bracket I8 and the frame member 24 yieldingly biases or normally urges the pin 82 to the left as seen in Figure 1 for a purpose to be later set forth.

As seen best in Figures 1 and 3, the rod 40 is provided with a downwardly inclined notch or wedge-shaped recess 92 which receives the pin 82 and causes swiveling movement thereof. The arrangement of the bar 40, the notch 92 and the pin 82 is such that in the raised position of the bar, which as above mentioned is the normal position of the bar during the ordinary knitting operation of the machine, the pin 82 is seated in the deeply or laterally positioned portion of the recess 92 and urged in contact therewith by the spring 86. When, however, the bar 48 is depressed in the manner before mentioned, the inclined or wedge-shaped portion of the recess 92 is lowered relative to the pin 82, and thereby swings the pin 82, and the bracket I8 in a horizontal plane without resultant motion of the lever 68, but in such a manner that upon raising or lowering of the pin 82, the lever 88 and the switch I0 are thereby oscillated about their horizontally disposed fulcrum or pivot 66.

A radially extending arm 94 is removably secured upon the camshaft I8 and is adjustable both longitudinally and circumferentially of said F" shaft by means of a split clamp 96. A laterally extending pin 98 is carried at the outer extremity of the arm 94 and is disposed parallel to the camshaft I8 and extends from said arm towards said lever 68. It should be here noted that the position of the arm 94 and the pin 98 relative to the pin 82, and also relative to the camshaft it both longitudinally and circumferentially, is of the utmost importance. With the parts shown in the position of Figure 1, which is the normal position of the parts for straight knitting, the pin 98 is positioned at a greater radial distance from the axis of the camshaft I8 than is the extremity of the pin 82, whereby their orbits would intersect, but the adjacent surfaces of pins 98 and 82 are slightly spaced from each other in a direction longitudinal of the camshaft I8, to provide a clearance of about e eth of an inch as the arm and pin 94 and 98 rotate.

However, when the machine is performing the narrowing operation of knitting, the camshaft I8 is not only rotating but is also reciprocating under the action of the members 20, 2| and 22, so that not more than one reciprocation occurs in timed relation to each rotation thereof, whereby the pin 98 traverses a substantially eliptical path as its support arm rotates and reciprocates longitudinally during said rotation. Concurrent with this operation, however, the narrowing nut 50 has caused a longitudinal movement of the actuating member 54 whose cam surface 58 has depressed the pin 82 and the bar 40, thereby causing the engagement of the inclined surface of the notch '92 with the pin 82, and has biased the latter toward the pin 98 and into position to intersect the original radial path of travel of the pin 98 corresponding to its travel during the straight knitting operation. It may be here noted that the normal longitudinal or shogging movement of the camshaft I8 is about e of an inch during this shogging operation accompanying, narrowing. However, the pin 82 is so adjusted by means of the nut 84, and the position of pin 98 is so adjusted both circumferentially and longitudinally of the shaft I8 by means of the clamp 88, that the extreme inward travel of the pin 98 relative to pin 82 during the narrowing opera tion is not reached until after the pin 98 has passed and cleared the pin 82. Thus, it will be seen that when the camshaft I8 is rotating and shogging in proper sequence and timed relation, the pin 98 is clearing the pin 82; but if for some reason the camshaft fails to shog and performs two consecutive rotations in the narrowing position, the pin 88 will engage the end of the pin 32, which has been displaced into the path of travel of pin 98 by the wedge-shaped recess 92, and thereby cause a pivoting of the lever 88 about its fulcrum 66. and by energization of the mercoid switch I0, will immediately cut off the power supply of the motor I6, thereby stopping all moving instrumentalities of the knitting machine.

It is also an important consideration to not only stop the actuation of the knitting machine by cutting off the power supply thereto whenever the camshaft fails to periodically reciprocate in properly timed relation during the narrowing operation, but to also prevent restarting the machine inadvertently until the operator thereof has had ample opportunity to ascertain and correct the cause of the defect producing the faulty operation. For this purpose, a trigger mechanism is provided which operates, once the lever 68 has been tilted by the pin 98, to prevent restoring the lever 88 together with the switch If! to their released position until the trigger mechanism has been manually reset.

This trigger mechanism may consist of various arrangements; but for illustration comprises a laterally extending plate or abutment I00 secured in any suitable manner upon the back rail I0 as by forming an inwardly positioned extension of the lug 28, and a sliding plate I02 which is longitudinally slidably secured to the undersurface of the lever 68 as by bolts I04 extending through a longitudinal slot in said plate I02. A pair of depending arms I06 and I08 are carried by the plates I and I02 respectively and support a tensioning spring I I0 therebetween. During normal operation of the machine and in the operative position of the lever 88 and the switch 70, the parts are arranged in the position shown in Figure 3, with the adjacent extremities of plates I00 and I82 abutting each other. The plates are maintained and yieldingly urged in this relative position by means of the spring I I0 therebetween.

When, however, the lever 68 is actuated by the cooperating pins 82 and 98, the inward extremity of the lever and the sliding plate 102 carried thereby ;are elevated relative to the fixed plate llfl until the adjacent edges of these plates clear each other, whereupon the spring lIn causes plate I02 to slide through the bolts I04 upon the lower surface of the lever 68 and over top of the plate I06, into the position shown in Figure 6. will be seen, return movement of lever 68 is now prevented by the wedging and blocking action of the adjacent superimposed plates I and I02. In order to restore the switch and trigger mechanism in operating position, it is necessary to manually slide the plate I02 against the action of spring III) until the adjacent edges of the plates disengage, whereupon the lever may be swung downwardly and the adjacent edges of the plates returned to their abutting position as shown in Figure 3.

This trigger and latching action of the mechanism prevents the inadvertent resumption of operation of the knitting machine and serves to Warn the operator that a condition exists which requires correction before the machine may safely resume its operation.

It will be evident from the foregoing that various adjustments may be effected upon the pin 82, and the arm 94 in order to adapt the device to the particular characteristics of various makes of knitting machines.

Obviously, the principles of this invention are not confined to any particular mechanism for operating or cocking the safety device in response to actuation of the narrowing nuts. A simplified actuating means is disclosed in Figure 8. In this embodiment is illustrated a fragment of the same construction of knitting machine shown in Figures 1-7, having a top rail I50, a narrowing shaft I52, narrowing nuts I54 and a camshaft Ifit. As in the preceding embodiment, the safety attachment includes a frame I58 which is supported by the front and rear rails, not shown,

a channel member I68 carried by the frame, and

a bar I62 guided for sliding movement in said channel member. There is likewise similarly provided a switch lever of which the inner extremity is illustrated at I64, this lever including the horizontally movable bracket I66 carrying the pin IE8. The latter is received in the notch or recess III) of the bar I62 and is spring urged therein as in the preceding embodiment. An actuating pin I12 is carried by the arm I14 adjustably secured to the camshaft, the construction and operation of those parts being identical with the corresponding elements hereinbefore described.

However, in this modification, a different bar actuating mechanism is employed. At its upper end, the channel guide member I60 has a recess or seat I'IES for receiving a pin H8 at the upper end of bar I82, to thereby limit the downward movement of the latter. A link I80 is pivoted at one extremity on the pin I18 and at its other end is connected at IBZ to the terminal of a lever I84.

A spring I88 tensioned between the pivot pin I32 and a portion I88 of the machine frame, yieldingly urges the bar I 62 into its lowered position. The lever I84 is pivoted at I90 to a suitable supporting bracket I92 depending from the top rail I59. The other end I94 of the lever is angularly disposed for abutting engagement with the end of one of the narrowing nuts I54. The arrangement is such that during straight knitting, when the narowing nuts are racked out to their separated position, shown in Figure 8, one of the nuts abuts the end I54 of lever I84 and prevents pivoting of the lever and lowering of the bar I62 by the spring I86. However, upon the rotation of the narrowing shaft I52, reverse screw threads I96 and I98 mov the nuts I54 toward each other, and the first inward movement of the narrowing nuts permits lever I84 to oscillate and the spring I86 completely lowers bar 562, the pin II8 seating in the recess I76. As in the preceding form of the invention, the upward position is the normal and inoperative position of the safety device for straight knitting while the lower position is the operative position during narrowing.

The principles of this invention are equally appreciable to a lace making machine, or other knitting machines which is employed to perform pivoting or lace making without straight knitting. In such operations, it is necessary that the camshaft rotate and reciprocate in timed relation as in the narrowing operations above mentioned. In order to insure that the camshaft shall operate in the desired manner, without two consecutive rotations in the same longitudinal position of the camshaft, the simplified construction of Figure 9 is utilized.

A portion of the frame of a knitting machine is shown at 200 and has the customary front and rear rails 2&2 and 284 and a camshaft 206 for operating the lace making instrumentalities, not shown. A suitable lever 288 is pivoted as at 2H) intermediate its ends to a U-shaped support bracket 2I2 carried by one of the rails. A switch indicated generally at 2I4, and preferably of the mercoid type is carried by the outer end of the switch lever and controls the electric power circuit of the machine as in the previous embodiments.

Rigidly attached to the forward end of lever 263 is a bracket 2H5 having a forwardly extending pin ZIS adjustably secured thereto as at 220. An actuating pin 222 extends parallel to the cam-shaft 286 and is carried by the outer extremity of a radial arm 224, adjustably mounted on th camshaft by a split clamp 226.

The operation of this arrangement will be evident from the preceding specification. As the camshaft rotates and shogs in proper timed relation, the pin 222 traverses an elliptical path and clears the pin 2I8. Upon failure of the camshaft to shog properly the pins 222 and 2IB engage, thereby tripping the lever 208 and stopping the machine.

A trigger and manual reset mechanism as in the first embodiment may be incorporated into this arrangement if desired.

Since numerous arrangements will readily be i apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and annexed drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular construction set forth, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. A safety attachment for knitting machines having a rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine; comprising, an actuating member secured to said camshaft for rotary and reciprocatory motion therewith, an actuated member controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, means synchronizing the operation of said shogging mechanism and said actuating member for engaging said actuated member upon what is continual rotation of said camshaft in its narrowing position for more than one revolution and causing the actuated member to interrupt the application of power to said knitting machine.

2. In a full fashioned knitting machine, driving means for running said machine, camshaft means for activating knitting and loop gathering instrumentalities, means operable by normal rotation of said camshaft for effecting straight knitting, additional means actuatable by rotation of said camshaft in an axially displaced position for operating loop gathering mechanism, actuatable means for rendering said driving means inoperative, an actuating means for selectively engaging said actuatable means and cansing the actuatable means to interrupt the operation of the driving means and thereby cause discontinuance of the operation of said knitting machine upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate and rotate in predetermined timed re--v lation during narrowing, and means synchronized with the narrowing control means for rendering said actuatable means operative and inoperative selectively.

3. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having a rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during and to effect narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine; comprising, an autuated member adapted to activate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm for actuation thereby to break said electric circuit and thereby stop said knitting machine, said shogging member being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said actuated member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in the narrowing operation.

4. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having a rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mech anism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine; comprising, an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member, means responsive to initiation of the nar" rowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm in the narrowing position of the camshaft, for actuation of the former by the latter to prevent operation of said knitting machine by said power means, said actuating arm and said shogging member being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said actuated member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever pivoted upon said machine for oscillation in a vertical plane.

5. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having a rotatable and reciproca'ble camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member for actuating said actuated member, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm for actuation thereby in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging member being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said actuated member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in the narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively mounted with an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop finger thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm.

6. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having a rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member for actuating the same, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of said actuating arm for actuation thereby in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging mechanism being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation during narrowing, said actuated member including a lever operatively mounted with an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement and said stop being pivoted on said lever for axial movement relative to said camshaft.

'7. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having rotatable and re ciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operatingsaid camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated mem-. her for actuation of the latter, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of said actuating arm for actuation thereby in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging member being synchronized to prevent engagement of said ace.

tuating and actuated members during normal op eration of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively mounted with an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement to said camshaft and said stop being pivoted on said lever for axial movement relative to said camshaft, said actuating arm having a striker pin extending parallel to said camshaft for actuation of said pivoted stop.

8. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having rotatable and re- 'ciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mech anism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm in the narrowing position of the camshaft for actuation thereby, said actuating arm and said shogging mechanism being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively controlling an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement relative to said camshaft and said stop being pivoted on said lever for axial movement relative to said cam shaft and resilient means urging said lever into one extreme of its path of oscillation and further resilient means urging said stop away from said actuating arm.

9. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and havin rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm for operation thereby in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging mechanism being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said actuated member to break said electric circuit upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively controlling an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement relative to said camshaft and said stop being pivotally mounts for axial movement relative to said camshaft, said first mentioned means including mechanism for biasing said stop pin towards said actuating arm.

10. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said cam shaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member for operation of the same, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating arm in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging mechanism being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said actuated member upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively mounted with an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperating with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement relative to said camshaft and said stop being pivoted on said lever for axial movement relative to said camshaft, said first mentioned means including mechanism for biasing said stop pin toward said actuating arm, said mechanism including a vertically slidable bar having a cam surface cooperating with said stop pin.

11. An attachment for knitting machines of the full fashioned type and having rotatable and reciprocable camshaft, camshaft shogging mechanism actuatable during narrowing and a power means for operating said camshaft and said knitting machine comprising; an actuated member adapted to actuate an electric circuit for controlling the application of power from said power means to said knitting machine, an actuating arm removably and adjustably secured to said camshaft in juxtaposition to said actuated member for operation of the same, means responsive to initiation of the narrowing operation for placing said actuated member in the plane of rotation of the actuating member in the narrowing position of the camshaft, said actuating arm and said shogging mechanism being synchronized to prevent engagement of said actuating and actuated members during normal operation of said camshaft during narrowing but causing operation of said members upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate during each rotation in narrowing position, said actuated member including a lever operatively mounted with an electric switch for actuating said electric circuit and having a stop thereon for cooperation with said actuating arm, said lever being pivoted for vertical movement relative to said camshaft and said stop being pivoted for axial movement relative to said camshaft, said first mentioned means including mechanism for biasing said stop pin towards said actuating arm, said mechanism including a vertically slidable bar having a cam surface cooperating with said stop pin and spring means normally withdrawing said cam surface from engagement with said stop pin.

12. A safety device for knitting machines having a camshaft which is reciprocable in timed relation to its rotation comprising an actuating member carried by said camshaft, an actuated member controlling the motive power of said machine, said members being positioned for clearance when said camshaft is reciprocating in timed relation to its rotation but engageable to cause operation of said actuated member by said actuating member for stopping said machine upon failure of said camshaft to reciprocate in said timed relation to its rotation.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said actuated member has a pin extending into the plane of rotation of said actuating member in one position of said camshaft during its reciprocation, said actuating member being axially displaceable from said plane of rotation during reciprocation of said camshaft to clear said pin.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said actuated member is movable axially of said camshaft, means for shifting said actuated member into the path of travel of said actuating member in one of the axial positions of the latter, and operating mechanism for said last mentioned means operatively connected with the narrowing nuts of the machine.

15; The combination of claim 14, said operating mechanism including resilient means biasing said operating mechanism into position to activate said last mentioned means.

16. The combination of claim 15 including a lever pivoted to the frame of said machine, one

end of said lever abutting a narrowing nut and constituting a stop means preventing operation of said operating mechanism while said narrowing nut is racked out.

17. A safety device preventing double dipping of a full fashioned hosiery knitting machine comprising a pivotable actuated member controlling the power source of a knitting machine, an actuating member carried by and movable with the camshaft of a knitting machine, means for positioning said actuated member for operation thereby in the path of travel of said actuating member in the shogged position of the latter, spring means rendering said means normally inoperative, operating means actuated by the initial narrowing movement of the narrowing nuts of a knitting machine for activating said first means, and a trigger mechanism for maintaining said actuated member in its operated position after actuation by said actuating members.

JULIAN B. HARDISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenIces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

